Billiard-table leg



(No Model.)

M. OASHIN.

BILLIARD TABLE LEG. No. 324,917. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

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Uivirn Starts Arinvr OFFICE.

MICHAEL CASI'IIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BILLIARD-TABLE LEG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,917, dated August 25, 1885.

Application iiled May 4, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL CAsHiN, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented an linprovement in Billiard-Table Legs and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

M y invention relates to the class of billiardtables, and to certain new and useful improvements in the legs thereof; and my invention consists in the combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective means for leveling the table and adapting it to be moved.

teferring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my billiard table leg. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the leg proper, (the foot being removed,) and of the plug E, showing the snail g. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the foot.

A is one corner of a billiard-table. B is the leg, and (l is the foot. The leg is provided with a socket, b, with which an aperture, b, through the said leg and at right angles with said socket communicates. The foot 0 is provided with a shank or stem, 0, having a spline or feather, 0, upon it. Thestem of the foot is fitted in the socket b of the leg, the spline 0 fitting in a groove, o in said socket, whereby said foot is adapted to move up and down, beinproperly guided by its feather. Upon the stem 0 of the foot is secured a vertical rack, D. Fitted in the aperture 6 of the leg is a plug, E, which forms a seat for the key-shaft I which passes through its center. Upon the inner end of the key-shaft is a disk, Gr, having upon its face a spiral rib or snail, g, which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the rack, and byits revolution to vertically adjust the foot (J. The plug is covered by a suitable plate, H, and the end of the key-shaft projects sufficiently to permit the engagement of a key for the purpose of rotating it. By turning this shaft the foot may be raised or lowered for the purpose of leveling the table.

As billiard-tables require to be set firmly on the floor, it is usually impracticable to mount them upon casters. The absence of casters, however, is a disadvantage, rendering it very difficult to move the tal le from one place to another,

I My invention contemplates the employment of casters for the legs, which are adapted to be withdrawn when the table is at rest, and to be projected when it is necessary to move it. In the foot 0 is made a socket, I, provided with a groove, i. Au aperturefl, in the side of the foot, communicates with the socket I.

J is the caster, which maybe of any suitable pattern, though preferably of rubber, or hav ing a rubber face. This caster is suitably mounted or swiveled in a stem or shank,K, which is provided with a feather, k, and fits within the socket-I in the foot, whereby it is adapted to move up or down therein, being guided by its feather fitting in the groove of said socket. The stem K is provided with a vertical rack, L, with which a snail, M, on the end of a key-shaft, N, is adapted to engage. This key-shaft is seated in the center of a plug, 0, which is fitted in the aperture i, and its end projects outwardly through a suitable coveringplate, 1., and is adapted to receive a key, whereby it may be operated. By rotating the shaft the snail engages the rack, and thus raises or lowers the stem, which carries the caster with it. In this way the caster maybe entirely withdrawn into the socket I of the foot, or may be projected downwardly against the floor, whereby the table rests upon the caster and may be moved.

Instead of the snails, I may use such equivalent devices as a worm or pinion for engaging the racks.

I am aware that various devices have been employed for leveling billiard-tables, but so far as I can discover the foot is secured in the leg, or is vertically adjusted by means of a screw either directly or through intermediate mechanism. I do not, therefore, claim the leveling of a billiard-table by means of extending or diminishing the length of its legs, but confine myself to the particular means I show, which I deem suitable for the purpose.

The advantage of the plugs E O is that they may be readily removed to effect the disengage ment of the snails and racks, whereby the foot and caster may be taken out.

I am aware a socket attached to the legs of a chair, table, &c., and guiding a verticallysliding bolt serrated at one side and locked in position by a spring-actuated pin having a toothed head is not new, nor a snail engaging a toothed stem and adjusting the height of a chair. I am also aware it is not broadly new to form a socket in a billiard-table leg in which is placed a caster, said caster being connected to and operated by a cam lever to bring the caster into engagement with the 'l'loor when desired, and these several features I therefore do not broadly claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The leg B, having a socket, b, and an aperture, b, at right angles with the socket, and communicating therewith, and the foot 0, having a stem, 0, fitted and guided within the socket b of the leg, in combination with the rack D on the stem, the removable plug E in the aperture, the key-shaft F,passing through the plug, and the snail g on the keyshaft engaging with the rack, substantially as herein described.

2. In a billiard-table leg, the foot or lower portion of the leg havinga'socket, I, made therein, in combination with the caster J, the stem or shank K, on which itis mounted, said stem fitting within the socketin the foot and adapted to move up or down therein, and the means by which its adjustment is effected, consisting of the rack L on the stem, the keyshat't N, passing through the lower portion or foot of the leg, the removable plug E in an aperture at right angles with the socket l, and the snail M on the keyshaft engaging with the rack, whereby the caster maybe entirely withdrawn into its socket, or may be projected against the floor, substantially as" herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MICHAEL- GASHIN.

Witnesses:

Tnos. LUNDBLAD, PAUL OAsruN. 

